Feb. 12, 2010 | By Gary D. Myers
NEW ORLEANS - It was a Super Bowl parade 43 years in the making, complete with confetti and Mardi Gras flair. The New Orleans Saints and their fans basked in the moment during the victory celebration Feb. 9.
The unbelievable happened ... the once-hapless, underdog Saints won the big game. The parade was epic even by New Orleans standards, giving future Super Bowl celebrations a tough act to follow.
Described by many as a "sea of humanity," an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 fans lined downtown streets to rejoice in the Saints' 31-17 Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts two days earlier. Fans sang along as bands played "When the Saints Go Marching In." Spontaneous "Who Dat" cheers rang out over and over again during the four and a half hour tribute to the team.
People from all walks of life and all backgrounds - young and old alike - came together to enjoy the spectacle that featured floats from many of the most famous Mardi Gras "krewes." In the crowd, people talked about the game, their favorite players and where they were when Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning's fourth quarter pass, sealing a Saints victory.
The parade was sweet for long-suffering Saints fans who have experienced only nine winning seasons since the NFL granted the franchise in 1967. Eighteen times the team has won five or fewer games in a season. During the lean years, fans often wore brown paper bags over their heads at games in the Super Dome.
But the team once known as "The Aints" are "Aints" no more.
Sign of Recovery
The joyous scenes of the parade were in stark contrast to the photographs and videos coming out of downtown New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Landmarks on the parade route like the Super Dome and the Convention Center were places of anguish and pain in the days following the storm. On this day the crowd was all smiles. And while the Saints were celebrated as kings for a day, the people New Orleans were also cheering for the rebirth of their city.
For those who asked, "Will New Orleans ever recover?" in the days following the storm, the city's residents answered with a resounding "Yes."
Since Katrina, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has been an active partner in the city's rebuilding process. Countless students, professors and staff members have wept and worked alongside those who lost everything in the storm. And they have shared their faith throughout the neighborhoods of New Orleans.
The seminary's MissionLab program quickly mobilized volunteers and began helping the area just months after the storm. Southern Baptist churches sent thousands of volunteers to New Orleans to rebuild homes and assist local churches with ministry and evangelism. Through the work of local churches, the seminary, the North American Mission Board and volunteer teams, Baptists have a stronger voice and a more visible presence in the city.
Many students, staff and faculty at NOBTS saw the event as another chance to connect with the people of New Orleans in an incarnational way. And for those who experienced Katrina and participated in the early recovery efforts, celebrations like this one transcend football.
When NOBTS doctoral student Rhyne Putman and his wife, Micah, returned to New Orleans following Katrina, the couple decided that they would spend more time outside the gates of New Orleans Seminary. Since then they have become students of the city - learning to understand the rich culture. Their love for the people of New Orleans keeps them in the world, but not of the world. The celebration was an opportunity to identify with his wife's coworkers, Putman said.
Putman was also excited to see the Saints players.
"I went to the parade because I was excited about the Saints winning," Putman said. "I really wanted to see Drew Brees. But it really was exciting to be a part of what the city is doing."
‘Magical' Season
Many have described the Saints' season with its comebacks and overtime victories as "magical." But, what seems like "magic" or even divine intervention came through hard work, discipline and character. Coach Sean Payton, now in his fourth season, emphasized these qualities to his players. And the team, marked by men of faith like Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, Mark Brunell, Heath Evans, David Thomas and Jon Stinchcomb, has responded. These and other players have become heroes on and off the field using their influence to benefit the city and bring glory to God.
Early in the season the Saints became the feel-good story of the National Football League after posting a 13-0 record. People in the sports world quickly made the connection between the team's on-field success and off-field commitment to the city. The players and coach often used their successes to talk about the area's ongoing recovery.
On the NFL's biggest stage before and after the game, Brees and Payton talked openly about their love for New Orleans and its people. Brees, Payton and other members of the team have given away thousands of dollars to assist the city.
Lasting Impact
Vanee Daure, a longtime staff member at NOBTS, could not attend, but had a chance to see the television coverage.
"Watching it on TV was great. It's not that I didn't want to be there, I just had a prior commitment," Daure said. "[The celebration] meant a lot to me, because it made the city come together. I've been a Saints fan since they started."
Daure sees other benefits in the Saints' big win.|
"I think [the win] is doing a lot for the economy of New Orleans. I think it is going to help the city recover," she said. She hopes the spotlight on the city will help more displaced residents rebuild and return to New Orleans. Economic development leaders agree. They believe the national exposure of the Super Bowl will create a boon for business in New Orleans.
The Super Bowl win did not solve the problems that still plague the city - poverty, blight and crime. And while the recovery is not complete, the city has come a long way since Hurricane Katrina.
According to Putman, the celebration was a good reminder of why New Orleans Seminary was placed in the city. Many people in the city and the region need to hear of the hope found in Jesus Christ. Putman hopes to one day see the city of New Orleans come together for the glory of God.
"Ultimately, it's not about football, it's about something bigger than football," Putman said. "I saw people getting excited about football players and the Vince Lombardi Trophy. What if people had that kind of vision for the Lord and the glory of God? What if we could somehow move the people of this city to that sense of excitement about things that really are significant?"
-30-